Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified at least 37 election hotspots in preparation for the 2025 midterm polls.
“We have election hotspots in the third and fourth districts of Leyte. We have hotspots in Central Luzon, but the numbers are lower compared to previous elections,” he stated during an interview, adding that the government does not anticipate a violent election.
Secretary Remulla noted that among these 37 locations nationwide, 28 are situated in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
He also mentioned that efforts are underway to ensure that the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita program (AKAP) will not be misused for vote buying or any illegal election-related activities.
“It is a continuous program, so it’s up to the House Speaker and the COMELEC to discuss what is not allowed and prohibited. As of now, they are still authorized until February for disbursement. It is not yet the official campaign period; campaigning is prohibited starting February 1,” he said.
The Interior Chief also urged all officials to initiate exclusion proceedings after the COMELEC observed that barangay certificates are being used to inflate the voting population.
“They can go to the COMELEC, conduct research, and file complaints so that we can investigate barangay captains in collusion with DILG officers who may be transferring voters. We are still in the investigation phase.”
